Image rotation to optimize rip and print performance time

ABSTRACT

A method for processing a print job includes: a) processing printer description language (PDL) image data for a select page of a print job to form raster image data for the select page, processing of the PDL image data and storing the raster image data in a RIP orientation; b) processing the raster image data for the select page to form bitmap image data for the select page, transforming the raster image data from the RIP orientation to a print orientation and storing the bitmap image data in the print orientation; and c) printing the bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation on a target substrate page to form a printed substrate page for the select page of the print job. A printing platform associated with the method includes a storage device, a RIP module, a rotator module, and a print engine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to and any benefit associatedwith U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/387,738, filed Sep.29, 2010, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present exemplary embodiment relates to processing a print job byprocessing printer description language (PDL) image data to form rasterimage data in a raster image process (RIP) orientation, using a rotatorfunction to process the raster image data to form bitmap image data bytransforming the raster image data from the RIP orientation to a printorientation, and printing the print job using the bitmap image data. Itfinds particular application in conjunction with a solid ink jet(SIJ)-based printing platform with an integrated marking engine (IME).However, it is to be appreciated that the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein are also amenable to various other types of printingplatforms and other types of print engines, such as a laser-basedprinting platform with an image output terminal (IOT).

In printing platforms, the page orientation for RIP has traditionallybeen based on the page orientation for image data preferred by the printengine. For example, the controller for a laser scan-based IOT is set toRIP in the long edge (i.e., landscape) orientation for a letter sizeprint job because the corresponding laser printer is set up to feedletter size target substrate pages for the print job in a long edge(i.e., landscape) orientation and a laser scan in the IOT runs in across-process direction relating to the long edge of the targetsubstrate pages. Conversely, the controller for a SIJ-based IME is setto RIP in the short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation for the sameletter size print job because, even though the corresponding SIJ printeris set up to feed letter size target substrate pages for the print jobin a long edge (i.e., landscape) orientation, ink-jets in the IME arearranged in a process direction. Thus, the IME prefers image data to bearranged in short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation.

Depending on the content of the document to be printed, RIP time canhave a significant impact on total print time (i.e., time fromactivation of a print command or print control that starts the print jobto delivery of the finished print job to an output tray on the printingplatform). The total print time may be referred to as click-to-clunk(C2C) time. The difference in C2C time between RIPing a print job in oneorientation versus the transverse orientation can be significant,particularly for documents having certain types of content. For example,this is a problem for PowerPoint (PPT) files with complex contents(e.g., graphics objects, image objects, or any combination thereof) ifthe files are designated for printing from the application program in anorientation transverse to the orientation for RIP in the printingplatform. PostScript (PS) or printer control language (PCL) filesgenerated from printing these PPT files using the PowerPoint applicationprogram may contain a lot of single pixel strips of graphics or imageobjects. For example, if landscape orientation is selected in thePowerPoint application program for printing the PPT file and theprinting platform RIPs in the short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation,RIP time may be increased by a factor of three or four times over whatthe RIP time would be if the orientation selected for printing and theorientation for RIP matched.

Certain printer customers may have escalated issues when it comes toreplacing an existing laser-based printing platform with an SIJ-basedprinting platform if print times are significantly slower. The complaintmay be that first set out times (FSOTs) for at least some of thecustomer's documents are excessive for the SIJ-based printing platformin relation to those previously experienced for the same documents whenprinting with the laser-based printing platform. A task force at Xeroxreviewed concerns raised by certain customers in order to understandfactors contributing to this problem and suggest potential solutions.The goal of the task force was to find solutions that would improveperformance across various types of printing platforms beyond abenchmark performance achieved by a laser-based printing platform with asingle board controller (SBC) configuration.

With reference to FIG. 1, the Xerox task force analyzed several existingproducts and observed speed improvements in C2C and RIP times whencomparing SIJ-based printing platforms with SBC configurations tocomparable SIJ-based printing platforms with multi-board controllerconfigurations (e.g., common board controller (CBC) configurations).Performance improvements were also observed in SIJ-based printingplatforms when faster processers, comparable to processors used inlaser-based printing platforms, were implemented in the controllers forthe corresponding SIJ-based printing platform. The chart in FIG. 1 showsexemplary C2C times observed by the Xerox task force. Please note thatthe data is shown for illustration of the general issue. “Noise” andother factors may be causing some variance in some specific data pointsrepresented in the chart.

In particular, the Xerox task force observed that certain customers withboth laser-based printing platforms and SIJ-based printing platformsnoticed large discrepancies in C2C times between the differentplatforms, especially in printing complex PowerPoint documents in alandscape orientation. While customers can understand performancereduction due to known differences in laser-based and SIJ-based printingand known design tradeoffs between the different printing platforms, thesignificantly slower printing performance for at least certain documentscreates uncertainty about the achievable print performance in SIJ-basedprinting platforms. Therefore, improved processing with reduction in RIPtime and C2C time to improve performance in certain types of printingplatforms is desired, particularly for SIJ-based printing platforms.Improved processing with reduction in RIP time and C2C time to increaseprinting performance for certain types of documents is also desired,particularly for PowerPoint documents and other types of documents withcomplex content (e.g., graphics objects, image objects, or anycombination thereof).

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following documents are fully incorporated herein by reference: 1)U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 61/387,720 to Tse et al.,filed Sep. 29, 2010, Method and Apparatus for Processing Print Job inPrinting Platform, and 2) U.S. Pat. App. Publication No. 2012/0075677 toTse et al. (Ser. No. 13/095,451), filed Apr. 27, 2011, Method andApparatus for Processing Print Job in Printing Platform, which claimspriority to Ser. No. 61/387,720.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect a method for processing a print job in a printing platformis provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) processingprinter description language (PDL) image data for a select page of aprint job at a raster image processor (RIP) module to form raster imagedata for the select page, the RIP module processing the PDL image dataand storing the raster image data in a RIP orientation; b) processingthe raster image data for the select page at a rotator module to formbitmap image data for the select page, the rotator module transformingthe raster image data from the RIP orientation to a print orientationand storing the bitmap image data in the print orientation; and c)printing the bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation on atarget substrate page at a print engine to form a printed substrate pagefor the select page of the print job.

In another aspect, an apparatus for processing a print job in a printingplatform is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: astorage device; a raster image processor (RIP) module in operativecommunication with the storage device for processing printer descriptionlanguage (PDL) image data for a select page of a print job in a RIPorientation to form raster image data for the select page and storingthe raster image data in the storage device in the RIP orientation; arotator module in operative communication with the storage device forprocessing the raster image data for the select page to form bitmapimage data for the select page by transforming the raster image datafrom the RIP orientation to a print orientation and storing the bitmapimage data in the storage device in the print orientation; and a printengine in operative communication with the storage device for printingthe bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation on a targetsubstrate page to form a printed substrate page for the select page ofthe print job.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a chart comparing C2C time measurements for exemplaryembodiments of a laser-based and SIJ-based printing platforms;

FIG. 2 is a functional diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of aprocess for processing a print job in an SIJ-based printing platform inwhich target substrate is fed in an long edge feed (LEF) fashion;

FIG. 3 is a functional diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of aprocess for processing a print job in a laser-based printing platform inwhich target substrate is fed in an LEF fashion;

FIG. 4 is a functional diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of aprocess for processing a print job in an SIJ-based printing platform inwhich target substrate is fed in an short edge feed (SEF) fashion;

FIG. 5 is a functional diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of aprocess for processing a print job in a laser-based printing platform inwhich target substrate is fed in an SEF fashion;

FIG. 6 is a chart comparing RIP and C2C time measurements for alandscape PCL print job for exemplary embodiments of existinglaser-based and SIJ-based printing platforms with LEF processorientation;

FIG. 7 is a chart comparing RIP and C2C time measurements for alandscape PCL print job for exemplary embodiments of existinglaser-based and SIJ-based printing platforms with SEF processorientation;

FIG. 8 is a chart comparing RIP and C2C time measurements for alandscape PS print job for exemplary embodiments of existing laser-basedand SIJ-based printing platforms with LEF process orientation;

FIG. 9 is a chart comparing RIP and C2C time measurements for alandscape PS print job for exemplary embodiments of existing laser-basedand SIJ-based printing platforms with SEF process orientation;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary landscape page for printing with an exemplaryimage object;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary landscape output frame buffer showing anexemplary landscape slice of the exemplary landscape page from FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary portrait output frame buffer showing anexemplary landscape slice of the exemplary landscape page from FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of amulti-function platform with copying, scanning, and printing operations;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a printingplatform for processing a print job;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a printingplatform for processing a print job;

FIG. 16 is a functional diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of printfunctions in laser-based and SIJ-based printing platforms;

FIG. 17 is a functional diagram showing another exemplary embodiment ofprint functions in laser-based and SIJ-based printing platforms;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an exemplary embodiment of a process forprocessing a print job in a printing platform; and

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of yet another exemplary embodiment of aprinting platform for processing a print job.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes various embodiments of methods and apparatusfor processing a print job in a printing platform in which image datamay be rotated from a desired orientation for RIP to a transverseorientation for printing corresponding page content on target substratepages by the print engine. Various embodiments disclosed herein provideimproved performance in the printing platform for the correspondingprint job by reducing RIP time when the preferred orientation of imagedata for RIP is different from the preferred orientation of image datafor the print engine. These improvements in print performance may bemore noticeable for certain types of print jobs, such as print jobs withcomplex content (e.g., graphics objects, image objects, or anycombination thereof). This allows print performance to be driven by theinherent performance of the printing technology and the designconfiguration selected for the printing platform. For example, thissimplifies cost tradeoff considerations between laser-based andSIJ-based printing platforms for customers.

The concept for rotation of image data orientation between RIP and printengine processes can be applied to all types of printing platforms,including multi-color printing platforms, to enhance printingperformance where it is preferred to perform such processes intransverse orientations. In other words, the RIP orientation can be usedfor all print jobs and for each color separation.

The preferred orientation for image data at the IOT in laser-basedprinting platforms is the “cross-process” direction because the lasermoves across the target substrate pages in the “cross-process”direction. Thus, when target substrate pages are fed through theprinting platform in long edge feed (LEF) or landscape orientation, thepreferred orientation for image data at the IOT is long edge (i.e.,landscape) orientation. Similarly, when target substrate pages are fedin short edge feed (SEF) or portrait orientation, the preferredorientation for image data at the IOT is short edge (i.e., portrait)orientation.

The preferred orientation for image data at the IME in SIJ-basedprinting platforms is the “process” direction because the ink jets inthe print head for the IME are arranged in one or more columns alignedwith the “process” direction. The print head for the IME moves across anintermediate transfer device (e.g., a drum or belt) in the“cross-process” direction printing a strip of the page in segments ofscan lines. If the SIJ-based printing platform does not use anintermediate transfer device, the IME moves across target substratepages in the “cross-process” direction, printing strips of pages in thesame manner. While the strip is in the “cross-process” direction, thescan lines and the segments of the scan lines printed by the ink jetsare in the “process” direction. Thus, when target substrate pages arefed through the printing platform in LEF (i.e., landscape) orientation,the preferred orientation for image data at the IME is short edge (i.e.,portrait) orientation. Similarly, when target substrate pages are fed inSEF (i.e., portrait) orientation, the preferred orientation for imagedata at the IME is long edge (i.e., landscape) orientation.

Based on the foregoing, printing performance on print jobs with complexcontent (e.g., graphics objects, image objects, or any combinationthereof), such as PPT files, that are printed in landscape orientationon target substrate pages fed through the printing platform in a longedge (i.e., landscape) orientation can be significantly improved inSIJ-based printing platforms by using a long edge (i.e., landscape)orientation for RIP, rotating the image data output from the RIP to forma rotated bitmap in a short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation compatiblewith the IME, and using the rotated image data at the IME to print thecorresponding target substrate page. FIG. 2 provides a flow chart forthis scenario and shows the orientation of image data as the print jobis being processed by the SIJ-based printing platform.

Similarly, printing performance on such print jobs that are printed inportrait orientation on target substrate pages fed through the printingplatform in a long edge (i.e., landscape) orientation can besignificantly improved in laser-based printing platforms by using ashort edge (i.e., portrait) orientation for RIP, rotating the image dataoutput from the RIP to form a rotated bitmap in a long edge (i.e.,landscape) orientation compatible with the IOT, and using the rotatedimage data at the IOT to print the corresponding target substrate page.FIG. 3 provides a flow chart for this scenario and shows the orientationof image data as the print job is being processed by the laser-basedprinting platform.

Likewise, printing performance on such print jobs that are printed inportrait orientation on target substrate pages fed through the printingplatform in a short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation can besignificantly improved in SIJ-based printing platforms by using a shortedge (i.e., portrait) orientation for RIP, rotating the image dataoutput from the RIP to form a rotated bitmap in a long edge (i.e.,landscape) orientation compatible with the IME, and using the rotatedimage data at the IME to print the corresponding target substrate page.FIG. 4 provides a flow chart for this scenario and shows the orientationof image data as the print job is being processed by the SIJ-basedprinting platform.

Similarly, printing performance on such print jobs that are printed inlandscape orientation on target substrate pages fed through the printingplatform in a short edge (i.e., portrait) orientation can besignificantly improved in laser-based printing platforms by using a longedge (i.e., landscape) orientation for RIP, rotating the image dataoutput from the RIP to a short edge (i.e., portrait) orientationcompatible with the IOT, and using the rotated image data at the IOT toform a rotated bitmap in print the corresponding target substrate page.FIG. 5 provides a flow chart for this scenario and shows the orientationof image data as the print job is being processed by the laser-basedprinting platform.

With reference to FIGS. 6-9, the Xerox task force came up with a reducedtest condition that shows how print performance can be improved onSIJ-based printing platform. The charts in FIGS. 6-9 compare the RIPtime between an exemplary existing laser-based printing platform and anexemplary existing SIJ-based printing platform. Both printing platformsuse SBC controllers with the same CPU, processor/memory speed, and HWarchitecture. Paper was loaded on the machines in SEF orientation (seeFIGS. 7 and 9) and LEF orientation (see FIGS. 6 and 8) for collection ofthe time measurements reflected in FIGS. 6-9. In the current design ofthe printing platforms, the paper output orientation (i.e., printingorientation) defines the RIP orientation used by the controller. Inother words, print jobs with LEF paper output will cause the controllerto RIP along the LEF orientation for the laser-based printing platformand along the SEF orientation for the SIJ-based printing platform.Similarly, print jobs with SEF paper output causes the controller to RIPalong the SEF orientation for the laser-based printing platform andalong the LEF orientation for the SIJ-based printing platform. Thus, themost pertinent comparison of the data is comparing RIP for thelaser-based printing platform in LEF to RIP for the SIJ-based printingplatform in SEF and vice versa.

As shown in FIGS. 6-9, RIP time measurements, for some documents, arehighly dependent on the orientation. For the PCL printing case, bothtypes of printing platforms RIP to 600×600×1 bit. One can see that thereis a strong correlation between the laser-based LEF measurements andSIJ-based SEF measurements and vice versa for PCL printing. PS printingalso shows this strong correlation, although there are largerdifferences that may be due to noise or to the differences inlaser-based RIP to 600×600×1 bit and SIJ-based RIP to 567×450×4 bit.However, it is quite clear that the behavior of these printing platformsis comparable along these lines.

With reference to FIG. 10, consider printing a landscape image, such asthe exemplary photo image. Since a RIP operation renders text, graphic,and image objects (i.e., elements) within a page of a print job to araster image bitmap, the RIP time for each page is dependent on thecontent of the corresponding page as well as the selected orientationfor printing. In order to understand the differences in RIP time fordifferences in RIP orientation, consider where the same document page isselected for printing in a landscape orientation and RIPed to both a“landscape” frame buffer and a “portrait” frame buffer. The light linesin FIG. 10 show the scan lines in the original (source) image that areselected for printing in the landscape orientation and provided to theRIP.

With reference to FIG. 11, when a page selected for printing in alandscape orientation is RIPed to a “landscape” output frame buffer,“landscape” slices of the image in the “landscape” output frame bufferrelate to “landscape” slices of the original (source) image. RIPingimage data for a page selected for printing in a landscape orientationto a “landscape” output frame buffer is faster because the scan lines ofthe source image provided to RIP correspond to the scan lines of theoutput frame buffer created by the RIP. The dark lines in FIG. 11 showthe scan lines of the “landscape” output frame buffer. There may not bea 1:1 correlation between pixels in the original (source) image and thebitmap pixels in the “landscape” output frame buffer if the RIP performsscaling.

With reference to FIG. 12, when a page selected for printing in alandscape orientation is RIPed to a “portrait” output frame buffer,“landscape” slices of the image in the “portrait” output frame bufferinclude portions of each scan line in the “portrait” output framebuffer. RIPing image data for a page selected for printing in alandscape orientation to a “portrait” output frame buffer is slowerbecause the scan lines of the source image provided to RIP aretransverse to the scan lines of the output frame buffer created by theRIP. Manipulating individual pixels from all of the input scan lines,rather than all of the pixels for one input scan line slows therendering down. The dark lines in FIG. 12 show the direction of the scanlines of the “portrait” output frame buffer. Again, there may not be a1:1 correlation between pixels in the original (source) image and thebitmap pixels in the “portrait” output frame buffer if the RIP performsscaling.

The full impact on RIP performance is dependent on content of pages inthe print job that are selected for printing in an orientationtransverse from the RIP orientation. For example, RIP performance getsworse when many narrow “landscape” strips of images in a “landscape”original (source) image have to be processed and placed in transversescan lines of a “portrait” output frame buffer. The extreme case is whenthe entire “portrait” page is made up of page-wide narrow single pixelstrips that make up the “landscape” page images. Due to the overlappingrequirement of objects on a page, these single pixel strips can appearon top of each other increasing the total number of these offending pageimages.

For example, printing a PowerPoint file creates PS or PCL files that mayinclude thousands of single pixel strips for certain page images in theprint job. This may create some worst case scenarios for the problemdisclosed herein. However, this is by no means a unique case since thisoccurs when simply printing a relatively common set of PowerPoint slideson a SIJ-based printing platform that is most efficient in feedingtarget substrate pages in an LEF orientation and expects data to be sentto it in an SEF orientation. The same issue can occur if the same fileis printed on a laser-based printing platform that feeds targetsubstrate pages in an SEF orientation and uses an IOT that prints thetarget substrate pages in the SEF orientation.

In general terms, the various embodiments of methods and apparatusdisclosed herein add a rotator to the processing for a print job betweenthe RIP and print engine to effectively rotate the orientation of theraster image bitmap resulting from RIP to be compatible with theorientation required by the print engine. This effectively decouples theRIP from the print engine. Under these circumstances, a RIP orientationcan be established for a particular printing platform for processingprint jobs that is most likely to reduce RIP time for most print jobs.For example, the RIP orientation may be established by the manufacturerof the printing platform or may be a user-selectable parameter in theprinting platform. The raster image bitmaps resulting from the RIP arestored in memory in the selected RIP orientation. The rotator reads theraster image bitmaps from the memory in a preferred orientation for theprint engine. The rotator can read the stored raster image bitmaps inscan lines that are transverse from the orientation of the scan linesfrom which the raster image bitmaps were stored. Typically, theorientation of scan lines provided by the rotator is the “portrait”(i.e., SEF) orientation for SIJ-based printing platforms and the“landscape” (i.e., LEF) orientation for laser-based printing platforms.The rotator is actually capable of providing any suitable rotation (orno rotation) to the raster image bitmap because it simply randomlyaccesses the memory to read image data to form scan lines in anorientation that is compatible with the print engine. This enables theprinting platform to perform RIP in the established RIP orientation forthe printing platform and printing in an orientation optimized for theprint engine based on the target substrate orientation through theprinting platform. For example, the selected orientation for the printjob may be selected by a user in a print parameter dialog box after thedocument is selected for printing from an application program.

The rotator may be implemented using an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC). As such, the rotator may be referred to as a hardware(HW) rotator. The rotator may also be implemented using any suitablecombination of hardware and software. The rotator frees the RIP torender images in the established RIP orientation.

With reference to FIG. 13, an exemplary embodiment of a multi-functionplatform, such as a multi-function device (MFD), shows image paths forprinting, copying, and scanning operations in relation to operationsperformed by a central processing unit (CPU), functions performed by anASIC, optional operations that may be performed by the CPU, and astorage device. The CPU operations include an interpreter module, arenderer module, a SW JPEG codec module, an XIPS (IPCore) module, and ascan export module. The ASIC functions include a calibration alignmentmodule, a first CST (RGB to Lab) module, a segment module, a filtermodule, a scaling R & E module, a first adjust module, a second CST (Labto CMYK) module, a first halftone module, a first compress module, amiddle functions module, a decompress module, and an IOT interfacemodule. The optional operations include a byte swap module, a secondadjust module, a second halftone module, and a second compress module.The storage device includes a system memory and an electronicpre-collation (EPC) memory. It is understood that the storage device mayinclude any suitable arrangement of suitable storage devices.

The interpreter module and renderer module form a RIP. The byte swapmodule, second adjust module, and second halftone module are optionaloperations that may be included in the RIP in any suitable combination.

The middle functions module may include a rotator function (i.e., HWrotator). Previously, a rotator function has been used in conjunctionwith copying and scanning operations. However, the image paths forcopying, scanning, and printing operations in the MFD shown in FIG. 13each possess the capability to do HW rotation of images. The rotatorfunction has not previously been used in conjunction with printingoperations. The performance of the HW rotator for copying and scanningoperations has steadily been improving with each generation of ASIC chipsets for MFDs and copiers. The HW rotator can run at close to orexceeding print engine speed.

The amount of uniquely reserved contiguous memory needed for the imagerotation operation has also been decreasing. There is no need fordedicated memory for image rotation. EPC memory, system memory, or anysuitable bulk image memory can be allocated for rotation buffering.

As shown in the generic block diagram of the MFD image paths, the“middle functions” block includes rotation, annotation and other imagemanipulation functions that are typically used to post-process imagesthat were captured from the scanner. These functions are typically usedto support copy and scan features. The middle functions are built in tothe ASIC to provide near real-time image processing functions.

With reference to FIG. 14, an exemplary embodiment of an existingprinting platform shows a RIP in a traditional print path. As shown, theRIP includes an interpreter module and a renderer module. The RIP mayalso include a byte swap module, an adjust module, and a halftone modulein any suitable combination. The RIP outputs image data that forms anoutput frame buffer in system memory. The image data from the RIP may becompressed before being stored in system memory. This output framebuffer is moved from system memory to EPC memory. From EPC memory, theoutput frame buffer may be decompressed and transferred to the printengine (e.g., IOT or IME). As mentioned above, the RIP renderingdirection (i.e., orientation) is directly tied to the direction (i.e.,orientation) that image data is needed by the print engine. Notably, noASIC middle functions from FIG. 13 are shown in the existing printingplatform of FIG. 14. In particular, the existing printing platform ofFIG. 14 does not include a HW rotator and does not use any type ofrotator function on the image data in the print path between the RIP andthe print engine.

With reference to FIG. 15, an exemplary embodiment of a printingplatform that implements a HW rotator between the RIP and the printengine via ASIC functions that include middle functions with the rotatorfunction. The addition of the HW rotator in the print path distinguishesthis printing platform from the printing platform of FIG. 14. Use of therotator function permits the orientation of image data for the RIP to bedifferent from the orientation of image data for the print engine. Thus,the orientation of image data for the RIP can be based on theorientation selected for the printing platform without regard to therequired orientation of image data for the print engine.

The RIP outputs image data that forms an output frame buffer in systemmemory. The image data from the RIP may be compressed before beingstored in system memory. The output frame buffer is read from systemmemory, rotated by the rotator function, and stored in the EPC memory inthe orientation of image data for the print engine. If necessary, therotator function decompresses and re-compresses the output frame buffer.Moreover, if the output frame buffer is already in the orientation ofimage data for the print engine, the rotator function may be bypassed ormay merely pass along the output frame buffer without performing therotation. From EPC memory, the output frame buffer may be decompressedand transferred to the print engine (e.g., IOT or IME).

By making use of the rotator in the middle functions block, the outputframe buffer from the RIP is decompressed and rotated before beingrecompressed and moved to the EPC memory. The newly rotated andcompressed output frame buffer can then be decompressed and transferredto the print engine (e.g., IOT or IME). Alternatively, the output imagefrom the RIP can be left uncompressed so that the middle functions donot need to decompress the image before rotation.

With reference to FIG. 16, a schematic representation of an exemplaryembodiment of current print functions in laser-based (FIG. 16A) andSIJ-based (FIG. 16B) printing platforms shows that the print functionsare currently performed differently by the different printing platformsin printing the same landscape page. In both printing platforms, the RIPorientation is tied to the orientation that image data is needed for theprint engine (i.e., IOT or IME). The resulting RIP performance isconstrained by this link to the print engine requirement for image datato be provided at a particular orientation regardless of whether thepage to be printed is a landscape or portrait page.

With reference to FIG. 17, a schematic representation of an exemplaryembodiment of print functions in laser-based and SIJ-based printingplatforms shows how the RIP and print engine functions are decoupled.This allows the RIP orientation to be different from the orientation ofimage data required by the print engine. Under these circumstances, theRIP orientation can be based on different criteria, such as theorientation of the page to be printed. Thus, RIP performance and printengine performance can be optimized on different criteria. This enablesoverall performance of the printing platform to be optimized without RIPperformance being unnecessarily constrained by the requirements of theprint engine. This also allows print path system designers to implementa preferred RIP orientation.

In summary, this disclosure provides an alternate way to RIP documentsfor printing in a printing platform by using a rotation function betweenthe RIP and the print engine. Use of the rotation function allows asystem designer to select a preferred RIP orientation for optimum printperformance without being bound by the print engine to which image datafrom the RIP is sent.

With reference to FIG. 18, an exemplary embodiment of a process 1800 forprocessing a print job in a printing platform begins at 1802 where PDLimage data for a select page of a print job is processed at a RIP moduleto form raster image data for the select page. The RIP module processesthe PDL image data and stores the raster image data in a RIPorientation. At 1804, the raster image data for the select page isprocessed at a rotator module to form bitmap image data for the selectpage. The rotator module transforms the raster image data from the RIPorientation to a print orientation and stores the bitmap image data inthe print orientation. Next, the bitmap image data arranged in the printorientation is printed on a target substrate page at a print engine toform a printed substrate page for the select page of the print job.

In another embodiment of the process 1800, the PDL image data includesPCL image data. In yet another embodiment, the PDL image data includesPS image data. In other embodiments, the PDL image data includes anothertype of suitable PDL image data.

In still another embodiment of the process 1800, the print orientationis transverse in relation to the RIP orientation. In a furtherembodiment to the embodiment being described, the print orientation maybe based on a short edge dimension of the target substrate page and theRIP orientation is landscape. In this embodiment, the target substratepage is fed through the printing platform in an LEF fashion and theprinting platform is SIJ-based. Alternatively, in this embodiment, thetarget substrate page is fed through the printing platform in an SEFfashion and the printing platform is laser-based. In another furtherembodiment to the embodiment being described, the print orientation maybe based on a long edge dimension of the target substrate page and theRIP orientation is portrait. In this embodiment, the target substratepage is fed through the printing platform in an SEF fashion and theprinting platform is SIJ-based. Alternatively, in this embodiment, thetarget substrate page is fed through the printing platform in an LEFfashion and the printing platform is laser-based.

In still yet another embodiment of the process 1800, the printorientation is the same orientation as the RIP orientation. In a furtherembodiment to the embodiment being described, the print orientation maybe based on a long edge dimension of the target substrate page and theRIP orientation is landscape. In another further embodiment to theembodiment being described, the print orientation may be based on ashort edge dimension of the target substrate page and the RIPorientation is portrait. In another embodiment of the process 1800, theprinting platform is a multi-color printing platform and 1802 through1806 are performed for at least one color separation of the printingplatform. In another embodiment of the process 1800, the printingplatform is a multi-color printing platform and 1802 through 1806 areperformed for each color separation of the printing platform.

With reference to FIG. 19, an exemplary embodiment of a printingplatform 1900 for processing a print job includes a storage device 1902,a RIP module 1904, a rotator module 1906, and a print engine 1908. TheRIP module 1904 is in operative communication with the storage device1902 for processing PDL image data for a select page of a print job in aRIP orientation to form raster image data for the select page. The RIPmodule 1904 stores the raster image data in the storage device 1902 inthe RIP orientation. The rotator module 1906 is in operativecommunication with the storage device 1902 for processing the rasterimage data for the select page to form bitmap image data for the selectpage by transforming the raster image data from the RIP orientation to aprint orientation. The rotator module 1906 stores the bitmap image datain the storage device 1902 in the print orientation. The print engine1908 is in operative communication with the storage device 1902 forprinting the bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation on atarget substrate page to form a printed substrate page for the selectpage of the print job.

In another embodiment of the printing platform 1900, the printorientation is transverse in relation to the RIP orientation. In afurther embodiment to the embodiment being described, the printorientation may be based on a short edge dimension of the targetsubstrate page and the RIP orientation is landscape. In this embodiment,the target substrate page is fed through the printing platform in an LEFfashion, the printing platform is SIJ-based, and the print engine 1908includes an IME. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the target substratepage is fed through the printing platform in an SEF fashion, theprinting platform is laser-based, and the print engine 1908 includes anIOT. In another further embodiment to the embodiment being described,the print orientation may be based on a long edge dimension of thetarget substrate page and the RIP orientation is portrait. In thisembodiment, the target substrate page is fed through the printingplatform in an SEF fashion, the printing platform is SIJ-based, and theprint engine 1908 includes an IME. Alternatively, in this embodiment,the target substrate page is fed through the printing platform in an LEFfashion, the printing platform is laser-based, and the print engine 1908includes an IOT.

In yet another embodiment of the printing platform 1900, the printorientation is the same orientation as the RIP orientation. In a furtherembodiment to the embodiment being described, the print orientation maybe based on a long edge dimension of the target substrate page and theRIP orientation is landscape. In another further embodiment to theembodiment being described, the print orientation may be based on ashort edge dimension of the target substrate page and the RIPorientation is portrait.

It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined intomany other different systems or applications. Various presentlyunforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations orimprovements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in theart which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing a print job in a printingplatform, comprising: a) processing printer description language (PDL)image data for a select page of a print job at a raster image processor(RIP) module to form raster image data for the select page in a RIPorientation and storing the raster image data for the select page in theRIP orientation, wherein the RIP orientation for the select page isselected from landscape and portrait orientations to optimize RIPperformance for the select page; b) processing the raster image data forthe select page at a rotator module to form bitmap image data for theselect page, the rotator module transforming the raster image data forthe select page from the RIP orientation to bitmap image data for theselect page in a print orientation and storing the bitmap image data inthe print orientation, wherein the print orientation for the select pageis selected from landscape and portrait orientations to optimize printengine performance for the select page; and c) printing the bitmap imagedata arranged in the print orientation on a target substrate page at aprint engine to form a printed substrate page for the select page of theprint job; wherein selection of the RIP orientation and selection of theprint orientation are based on different criteria and the processing ofthe select page in the RIP orientation is decoupled from the processingof the select page in the print orientation.
 2. The method set forth inclaim 1 wherein the PDL image data includes printer control language(PCL) image data.
 3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the PDLimage data includes PostScript (PS) image data.
 4. The method set forthin claim 1 wherein the print orientation is transverse in relation tothe RIP orientation.
 5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein theprint orientation is based on a short edge dimension of the targetsubstrate page and the RIP orientation is landscape.
 6. The method setforth in claim 5 wherein the target substrate page is fed through theprinting platform in a long edge feed (LEF) fashion and the printingplatform is solid ink-jet (SIJ)-based.
 7. The method set forth in claim4 wherein the print orientation is based on a long edge dimension of thetarget substrate page and the RIP orientation is portrait.
 8. The methodset forth in claim 1 wherein the print orientation is the sameorientation as the RIP orientation.
 9. The method set forth in claim 8wherein the print orientation is based on a long edge dimension of thetarget substrate page and the RIP orientation is landscape.
 10. Themethod set forth in claim 8 wherein the print orientation is based on ashort edge dimension of the target substrate page and the RIPorientation is portrait.
 11. An apparatus for processing a print job ina printing platform, comprising: a storage device; a raster imageprocessor (RIP) module in operative communication with the storagedevice for processing printer description language (PDL) image data fora select page of a print job to form raster image data for the selectpage in a RIP orientation and storing the raster image data for theselect page in the storage device in the RIP orientation, wherein theRIP orientation for the select page is selected from landscape andportrait orientations to optimize RIP performance for the select page; arotator module in operative communication with the storage device forprocessing the raster image data for the select page to form bitmapimage data for the select page by transforming the raster image data forthe select page from the RIP orientation to bitmap image data for theselect page in a print orientation and storing the bitmap image data inthe storage device in the print orientation, wherein the printorientation for the select page is selected from landscape and portraitorientations to optimize print engine performance for the select page;and a print engine in operative communication with the storage devicefor printing the bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation ona target substrate page to form a printed substrate page for the selectpage of the print job; wherein selection of the RIP orientation andselection of the print orientation are based on different criteria andthe processing of the select page in the RIP orientation is decoupledfrom the processing of the select page in the print orientation.
 12. Theapparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein the print orientation istransverse in relation to the RIP orientation.
 13. The apparatus setforth in claim 12 wherein the print orientation is based on a short edgedimension of the target substrate page and the RIP orientation islandscape.
 14. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 wherein the printorientation is based on a long edge dimension of the target substratepage and the RIP orientation is portrait.
 15. The apparatus set forth inclaim 11 wherein the print orientation is the same orientation as theRIP orientation.
 16. A method for processing a print job in a printingplatform, comprising: a) processing printer description language (PDL)image data for a select page of a print job at a raster image processor(RIP) module to form raster image data for the select page in a RIPorientation and storing the raster image data in the RIP orientation,wherein the RIP orientation for the select page is selected fromlandscape and portrait orientations based at least in part on the PDLimage data for content of the select page to optimize RIP performancefor the select page; b) processing the raster image data for the selectpage at a rotator module to form bitmap image data for the select page,the rotator module transforming the raster image data from the RIPorientation to bitmap image data for the select page in a printorientation and storing the bitmap image data in the print orientation,wherein the print orientation for the select page is selected fromlandscape and portrait orientations based at least in part on asubstrate feed orientation for the printing platform and a type ofprinting technology implemented by the printing platform, wherein theprint orientation is transverse in relation to the RIP orientation; andc) printing the bitmap image data arranged in the print orientation on atarget substrate page at a print engine to form a printed substrate pagefor the select page of the print job; wherein the processing of theselect page in the RIP orientation is decoupled from the processing ofthe select page in the print orientation.
 17. The method set forth inclaim 16 wherein the PDL image data includes printer control language(PCL) image data.
 18. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein the PDLimage data includes PostScript (PS) image data.
 19. The method set forthin claim 16 wherein the print orientation is based on a short edgedimension of the target substrate page and the RIP orientation islandscape.
 20. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein the printorientation is based on a long edge dimension of the target substratepage and the RIP orientation is portrait.